Corset



(No Model.)

M. P. BRAY CORSET.

No. 88 .828. Patentefl Aug. 28, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

MORRIS P. BRAY, OF ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

CORSET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,623, dated August 28, 1888.

Application filed July 9, 1888.

T 0 ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MoRRIs P. BRAY, of Ansonia, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Corsets; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be'a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a front view of the breast portion of the corset; Fig. 2, the outer and inner thicknesses for the three breast-sections; Fig. 3, a transverse section through the three sections detached; Fig. 4, a face view of the three sections as prepared for stitching together; Fig. 5, a transverse section enlarged through the sections showing the overlay.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of corsets which are made from two or more thicknesses of fabric out in sections, the sections stitched and provided with pock ets for the introduction of stays.

To give the proper form to the breasts of the corset, a stiffening ofsome character is desirable. Unqnestionably the best stiffening is a fabric introduced between the outer and inner thickness, the said fabric introduced possessing in itself a stiffness or capacity of retaining its form when shaped; but such introduction necessitates making the breast portion in several sections or parts out to shape and stitched together. The stitchingtogetherof the sections or parts composed of the several thicknesses, as usually practiced, produces heavy seams, which not only detract from the finished appearance of the corset, but make it more or less uncomfortable for the wearer. this class of stiffened breasts that my invention particularly relates, and has for its object to employ such stifl'ening for the breast portions of the corset, but yet avoid the heavy seams; and it consists in the construction as hereinafter described, and more particularly recited in the claim.

As here represented, the breast portion of the corset is made from three gore-shaped sections, A being the central section, and B C the two side sections. These sections may extend to the bottom of the corset, but I prefer It is to Serial No. 279,412. (No model.)

to cut them short and make a portion of the front below the breasts in a separate piece.

The corset is composed of an outer and an inner thickness, as usual in this class of corsets. In making up the breast portion the outer thickness for each of the several parts is cut slightly narrower than the width the respective sections are to occupy in the corset, and the parts for the inner thickness are out enough broader than the outer thickness to form the seams between the sections.

D, Fig. 2, represents the outer thickness, and E the inner thickness, of the central porexcept that the inner thickness is broader than the outer thickness D.

F represents the outer thickness for the left hand side, and G the inner thickness for the same side, while H represents the outer thickness for the right-hand side and I the inner thickness for the right-hand side, these side portions being of the same shape, except that the inner thickness is wider than the outer thickness, as clearly seen in Fig. 2, and so as to leave a single-thickness margin upon the edge next the central section.

The stiffening material, which may be haircloth, buckram, or any of the known stiffeners, is cut of a size and shape the same as the outer portions D, F, and H.

In Fig. 3, J represents the stiffening material for each section. This stiffening material is first laid upon the innerthickness, and then over that stiffening material the outer thickness is laid, as seen in Fig. 3, each in their proper relation to each other, and as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, but so as to leave a like margin, a, upon the adjacent edges of the three sections. The three thick nesses are then stitched together, after the manner of quilting, as indicatedin Fig. 4, thus firmly uniting the three thicknesses substantially over the whole surface of the sections, but leaving the margins a a free. This done, the single-thickness mar gin of the inner portion of each is stitched to the other, as represented in Fig. 5, the margins being doubled on the outer side by suchseaming, and so that the turned-over edges of the inner thicknesses will lie between the edges of the stiffening and outer thickness, as indicated in Fig. 5. Then over each of the seams thus tion. These two pieces are of the same shape,

formed an overlay, K, is applied, which forms the pocket for a stay, and therefore serves the double purpose of covering the seam and providing for a stay.

The edges of the breast portion are introduced between the thicknesses of the sections each side the breast in the usual manner, and as indicated in Fig. 5. Under this construction the seam between the breast-sections is simply that produced by stitching together single thicknesses, the outer thickness and the stiffening taking no part in such seam, but leaving a recess between the respective sections for the seam.

As I have stated, the breast-sections may continue to the bottom, so as to be full length of the corset, or may be made short, as I have represented, this being a modification too well understood to require illustration. Thus con structed the requisite contour is easily given to the breast portion of the corset and the stiffening introduced, which enables that portion of the corset to retain its shape, but the heavy seams, incident to stitching sections of several thicknesses together, are avoided.

I have thus far described the construction as having the broader thickness upon the inside, and this I prefer; but it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the thickness forming the margins a may be either the outer or inner thickness, the seam being formed in the same manner, but bringing the overlay upon the outor in side, accordingly as the margins are upon the inner or outer thickness.

I claim- The herein-described improvements in corsets, eonsisting in the breast portion construct ed in several sections, each section composed of an inner thickness and an outer thickness, one of said thicknesses no greater in width than the width the section is to occupy in the corset, the other thickness of greater width than the one thickness, and a stiffening fabric of substantially the same size and shape as the said one thickness between the said two thicknesses, the said three thicknesses forming each section stitched together, the greater breadth of one thickness forming a margin of single thickness, and the said sections united by stitching the adjacent margins together, combined with an overlay over the said stitched margins, substantially as described.

r MORRIS P. BRAY.

Vitnesses:

JOHN E. EARLE, FRED O. EARLE. 

